Animal rights groups consistently attack what they call factory farming with attempts to pass laws and regulations that restrict or ban some practices. Pig housing is a favorite target, especially since Florida voters amended their constitution to ban a particular type of housing being used by two hog farmers in the state.

The American Veterinary Medical Association has been pressured to oppose close confinement housing for pregnant sows, but has repudiated the activists with a policy that states " ... no existing housing system for pregnant sows is better than another, and the advantages of current systems should be retained while improvements are made to overcome problems."